Contact for controllers or reversing-switches.



No. 674,858. v Patented m 28, l90l.

J. TRIER. CONTACT FOB CONTROLLERS OR REVEBSING SWITCHES.

(Applicttiun filed Apr, 26 1 UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN TRIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO DONALD GRANT, FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA.

CONTACT FOR CONTROLLERS OR RE V ERSING-SWITCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 674,858, dated May 28,1901.

Application filed April 26 1900. Serial No. 14,396, (No model.)

To all whom it floaty concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TRIER, a citizen of the United States, residingat Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Contact for Controllers or Reversing-Switches, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to contacts for controllers orreversing-switches.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, andefficient construction and arrangement of contacts for controllers,reversing-switches, and the like.

Theinvention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination,location, and arran gement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, andfinally pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying'drawings and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure l is a view in end elevationof a controller or reversingswitch cylinder, showing in longitudinalsection the application thereto of a contact constructed in accordancewithmy invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view in section on the line 2 2,Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 is a detail view,in end elevation, of a con: tact and its support. Fig. 4 is a View inplan of a controller or reversing cylinder, showing the relativearrangement of the contacts.

The same part is designated by the same referencesign wherever it occursin the several Views.

Reference-sign, A designates a controller or reversing-switch cylinder,upon the surface of which are mounted and suitably arranged the contactstrips or plates'B. Arranged in suitable relation to the path traversedby the contact plates or strips B to cooperate therewith in effectingthe desired circuit changes are the contacts 0. It is exceedinglydesirable in apparatus of this class to maintain the con tacts inefficient contact with the strips or plates Bwhen the cylinder A isrotated or rocked to bring said plates or strips into ongagement withthe contacts 0. It is also desirable and important to provide for Wearof the engaging surfaces of said contacts and plates or strips and tomaintain an efficient contact notwithstandingsuch wear. Particularly arethese results desirable in the use of controllers or reversing-switchesupon automobiles or similar vehicles where by reason of rough places,streetcar tracks, stones, and the like encountered by the vehicle-wheelsjolts and jars are imparted to the entire vehicle-frame,which aretransmitted to the motor controller or reversingswitch, thereby 6orapidly destroying the efficiency of the contacts, causing objectionablesparking.

It is the special purpose of my invention to provide a construction ofcontacts for controller and reversingswitch cylinders which which thevehicle is subjected. With this object and purpose in view each contact0 is formed on or carried by a rod D, mounted to slide longitudinally ina casing E. This casing is mounted in a suitable bracket G, supported inconvenient relation to the controller or reversing cylinder. The rod Dis shouldered, as at F, and a spring H, preferably for conveniencecoiled about rod D, bears at one end against the shoulder F and at theother end against the casing-E, the tension of said springbeing'constantly exerted to yieldingly maintain the rod D projectedthrough the casing and in position for the contact 0, carried thereby,to be held efficientlyin contact with a strip or plate B on the cylinderA or in position 0 to be engaged by such strips or plates when thecylinder is rotated. The outer end of rod J is screw-threaded, andsuitable nuts J, mounted thereon and bearing against the cas ing E,serve to adjust the tension of spring H 5 and to regulate and adjust theextent of projection of the contact G toward the path traversed by thestrips or plates B. These nuts also form means of attachment of theconducting-wire K.

or edges of the contact-block may be beveled 0%, as clearly indicated atL, Figs. 1 and 3. Thus when the cylinderA is rotated the strips 'orplates engage the beveled surfaces L of the contactblocks and press thesame back against the tension of springs H, thereby establishing andmaintaining a most efficient electrical contact, which is not disturbedor destroyed by the jerks and jolts to which the vehicle is subjected.

In order that in the projecting movements of the contact-blocks C saidblocks maybe held against axial displacement, I arrange a shelf or ledgeM upon the bracket G, which supports the casting E, or in other suitablerelation, and which is engaged by the flat side of the contact-block,thereby grinding the same and'holding it against axial rotation. (SeeFigs. 1 and 3.) i

It is obvious that many variations and changes in the details ofconstruction and arrangement would readily occur to persons skilled inthe art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I donot desire,

therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details ofconstruction shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new anduseful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination with a controller carrying contact-plates of acasting, a rod supported in said casting for longitudinal movementtherein, means for adjusting the extent of such "longitudinal movement,said rod provided'with a shoulder, a cooperating contact carried by saidrod and a spring bearing at one end against said shoulder and at theother end against said casting to yieldingly project said cooperatingcontact to the extent of the adjustable limit thereof into the path ofsaid .pose set forth. 1

2. The combination with a controller carrying contact-plates, alongitudinally-movable rod having a shoulder,a spring bearingagainstsaid shoulder and operating to yieldingly project said rodlongitudinally, means for adjustably limiting the longitudinal movementof said rod and a cooperating contact carried by the projecting end ofsaid rod, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a controller carrying contact-plates, alongitudinally-movable rod carrying a cooperating contact, saidcooperating contact having beveled corners, a

spring operating on said rod to yieldingly project said cooperatingcontact within the path traversed by said contact-plates and adjusting-nuts for adj ustably regulating the extent of longitudinal projectionof said rod, as and for the purpose setforth.

4. The combination with a controller carrying contact-plates, alongitudinally-movable rod carrying a cooperating contact, a springoperating on said rod to yieldingly project said cooperating contactinto the path of movement of said controller-plate, means for adjustably limiting the extent of projection of said rod and a guide withwhich said cooperating contact engages for preventing the axialdisplacement of said cooperating contact, as and for the purpose setforth.

, 5. The combination with a cylinder having contact-plates, alongitudinally-movable rod carrying a cooperating contact, a support forsaid rod, said support provided with a ledge or shelf arranged to engageand guide said cooperating contact and prevent axial displacementthereof, and a spring operating on said rod to yieldingly project saidcooperating contact into the path of said contact-plates, as and for thepurpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 10th day of March,1900, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOHN TRIER.

Witnesses:

E. O. SEMPLE, S. E. DARBY.

